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Importance of aquatic invertebrates in the diet of rapids-dwelling fish in the Sinnamary River, French Guiana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1998

Véronique Horeau
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Environnement HYDRECO de Petit Saut B.P. 823, 97388 Kourou Cedex, French Guiana ([email protected])
Philippe Cerdan
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Environnement HYDRECO de Petit Saut B.P. 823, 97388 Kourou Cedex, French Guiana ([email protected])
Antoine Champeau
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Hydrobiologie, Université de Provence, 13331 Marseille Cedex 3, France
Sandrine Richard
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Environnement HYDRECO de Petit Saut B.P. 823, 97388 Kourou Cedex, French Guiana ([email protected])

Abstract

The stomach contents of 683 fishes representing 39 species were examined to determine the diet of fish living in fast-flowing waters (rapids) of the Sinnamary River in French Guiana. Aquatic invertebrates were shown to be an important source of food in the rapids biotopes, in contrast to what has previously been observed for slow-flowing waters. Aquatic insects (e.g., the larval stages of Diptera, Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera) make up 55% of the diet of fish living in rapids. Such prey animals were more common in those biotopes than in slow-flowing waters. Twenty-two species of fish, each represented by at least 10 individuals in all samples, were analyzed for their stomach contents. The spectrum of prey items allowed for an estimation of the similarity of feeding habits. These diets were further compared to those inferred for other rivers of the Amazonian and Guianian regions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press

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